Netminder Palmer Joins Mallards
MOLINE, Ill. (September 17, 2012) – The Quad City Mallards of the “AA” Central Hockey League today announced they have signed goaltender
Joe Palmer. Per club policy, no contract terms were announced.
Palmer, 24, last season went 12-10-1 with a 3.02 goals against average and a .904 save percentage while playing a total of 28 games for three ECHL teams- the Reading Royals, Gwinnett Gladiators and Florida Everblades.
Palmer now returns to the CHL for the first time since enjoying a standout rookie campaign with the Texas Brahmas in 2009-10.
"I saw Joe play when he was with the Brahmas a couple of years ago and thought he played great," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski . "When he came to my attention this offseason I knew he had to be a Mallard."
The 6’ 1”, 205-pound Palmer went 13-10-4 in 32 games with Texas and finished his first professional season tied for the CHL lead in shutouts (3), tied for sixth in save percentage (.914) and ranked ninth in goals against average (2.75).
In 2010-11, Palmer moved on to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, for whom he went 10-14-1 with a 4.17 goals against average and a .870 save percentage in 28 games.
Palmer started last season in Reading, where he went 5-6-3 and posted a 3.16 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in 16 outings. In January, the Yorkville, New York, native joined Gwinnett, for whom he went 6-4-0 in 11 games and turned in a 3.39 goals against average and a .877 save percentage. He finished the campaign by winning his lone outing with the Florida Everblades.
Palmer turned pro after three seasons at Ohio State. He went 25-36-9 in 71 career collegiate games while registering a 3.11 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. Palmer embarked upon his college career after being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round of the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall choice.
Before heading to Columbus, Palmer spent the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons with the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 Team.